BPM Delay Calculator
Turn a BPM into delay times in milliseconds for every note value, including dotted and triplet.
Dotted values last one-and-a-half times as long; triplets pack three notes into the space of two. Set your delay or reverb pre-delay to these numbers and the echoes lock to the groove.
| Note value | Straight | Dotted | Triplet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole (1/1) | 2,000 ms | 3,000 ms | 1,333.3 ms |
| Half (1/2) | 1,000 ms | 1,500 ms | 666.7 ms |
| Quarter (1/4) | 500 ms | 750 ms | 333.3 ms |
| Eighth (1/8) | 250 ms | 375 ms | 166.7 ms |
| Sixteenth (1/16) | 125 ms | 187.5 ms | 83.3 ms |
| Thirty-second (1/32) | 62.5 ms | 93.8 ms | 41.7 ms |
How it works
A quarter note is one beat, so its length in milliseconds is just 60000 divided by the BPM. At 120 BPM that's 500 ms per quarter — the anchor for everything else.
Shorter note values are simple fractions of that: an eighth is half, a sixteenth is a quarter. Dotted notes last one-and-a-half times as long, and triplets fit three in the space of two, so they run at two-thirds the straight value.
Type your tempo and the table fills in with straight, dotted, and triplet times side by side. Copy the number you want into your delay plugin's time field, and the echoes fall right into the pocket.
Frequently asked questions
What's the delay time at 120 BPM?
A quarter note is 500 ms, an eighth is 250 ms, and a sixteenth is 125 ms. A dotted eighth — a favourite for that classic rhythmic bounce — comes out to 375 ms.
Why use a dotted-eighth delay?
It creates a syncopated, off-the-grid echo that famously drives guitar and synth parts. At 120 BPM that's a 375 ms delay time, which sits between the straight eighth and quarter.
Should I sync delay to tempo or free-run it?
Tempo-synced times make echoes feel rhythmic and tight. Free-running (un-synced) delays can add a looser, more organic wash — both are valid, it depends on the vibe you want.